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An Approach to The Impacts of Surf Tourism in Puerto Escondido

“Nowadays, surfing is regarded as a multi-million dollar industry; however, much is still unknown about it as a social phenomenon, as well as its ability to positively and negatively impact the destinations where it develops, its people and the environment,” writes Luis Alberto Valencia Chávez. Luis is an Associate Professor at Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México and the author of a paper published last December outlining locals’ perspectives on the economic and socio-cultural impacts related to surf tourism, that uses the world-renowned spot of Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast of the Mexcian state of Oaxaca as a case study.

For this research, Luis interviewed twenty-eight people with different sociodemographic profiles and occupations, all of whom were residents of Puerto Escondido and lived and/or worked near surf beaches. He also took notes based on exploratory visits to beaches frequented by tourists; these observations, together with the interviews and informal chats with locals, formed the basis of the study. Results revealed five main impacts, which were divided into three categories: economic, sociocultural, and environmental.

“Locals are used to seeing surfers with surfboards walking barefoot along the streets; it's part of the day-to-day in Puerto. And it's so common that we hardly question, Why do these people come to Puerto?”

Below is a summary of the findings, along with interview excerpts and insights from the author. [Editor’s Note: Quoted text has been translated from Spanish and edited for readability].

Economic Impacts

The main theme regarding economic impacts was the flow of money. Several residents of Puerto Escondido highlighted the economic significance of surf tourism, emphasizing its year-round presence and positive impacts on employment, lodging income, food expenses, and consumption in bars, and that this spending by tourists creates a multiplier effect, stimulating other economic sectors. Still, whilst surf tourism is recognized for its economic significance, interviewees acknowledged that national family tourism generates greater economic benefits overall, with some of them noting that the economic benefits of surf tourism are concentrated in specific areas and businesses, such as Zicatela and Punta de Zicatela, surf shops, surf classes, and accommodations catering to surfers, making it so that surf tourism does not benefit the majority of the destination.

“I think that people who own small businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, benefit from surf tourists. They have to stay somewhere. They also go out to eat at a restaurant, shop at the market... even taxi drivers benefit because surfers arrive by plane and have to move from the airport to the place where they are going to stay. I believe that there is an economic benefit, there is work and, logically, the locals obtain income.”

Sociocultural Impacts

When it comes to sociocultural impacts, one of the main themes was the ‘mimicking’ of surfers by local youth. Participants observed that aspiring young surfers often imitate the style and behaviour of surfing tourists and local surfers. This imitation, clearly depicted in the way youngsters dress, is mostly seen as having a positive impact, motivating them to pursue the sport and strive for professional success. According to the interviewees, surfing is viewed as a means for young people to access better opportunities in life, such as travel, sponsorships, and a unique lifestyle. “We have many talented surfers in Puerto Escondido, but many of them, at some point or other, have to leave the sport aside because they have to work, so they end up doing it as a hobby only,” expounds Luis. “Indeed, the fact surfers from other parts of the world come to Puerto motivates young local surfers to give their all. But I believe that with a bit more support, more than simply being motivated, some of them could reach professionalism and come to live off the sport.”

The second major theme in sociocultural impacts was localism.This phenomenon was reported only by interviewees involved in surfing or closely connected to surfers. They view localism as a natural part of surfing and consider it normal for a surfing destination like Puerto Escondido. Locals, being native to the area, express a preference for surfing their own spots but acknowledge that localism can sometimes be mitigated by requesting something in return from tourists to access the spots. Two important factors arise regarding this issue: interviewees see localism as a normal and enduring aspect of the surf world, but they also acknowledge an increase in surfing tourists, which contributes to the presence of localism in most cases.

“Well, I think that localism is simply the respect that the person who comes to surf somewhere else should have... But unfortunately, it can be an economic problem. Normally, the gang [local surfers] want to take things away from them [foreign surfers]. They ask for boards; they ask for equipment or other things. [Foreign] surfers become like granny's trunk, some people take things from them."

Environmental Impacts

Environmental conservation was a positive point within the environmental impacts. The majority of interviewees agreed that surfers, both locals and tourists, contribute to environmental conservation in Puerto Escondido; they don't litter on the beach, prioritize cleanliness, and show concern for animals, embodying the concept of the "blue mind surfer." Participants also noted that surfing tourists are often seen cleaning the beaches where they surf, demonstrating their environmental sensitivity, a behaviour that distinguishes them from national tourists visiting Puerto Escondido in terms of environmental care.

“Usually, surf tourism already brings a level of awareness to safeguard the sea, the waves, the beaches, even the planet. National tourism does not bring that level of awareness, they are not used to preserving the environment, as they do not see the love that a surfer could have for the beach.”

The second environmental impact was related to the increasing number of hotels being built along the coastline and how they affect the waves. According to the interviewees, this is a byproduct of tourism in general – not just surf tourism. But curiously, instead of raising concerns about issues like coastal construction, waste management, and lack of infrastructure, which are commonplace in Puerto Escondido, respondents seemed more worried by how large constructions can obstruct wind, modify sandbanks, and alter ocean currents, affecting wave formation.“Puerto has become so popular that the number of beachfront buildings – tall buildings – has increased a lot,” stresses Luis. “Construction is being carried out in a very short-sighted way, without much consideration for the future, and I think this is the biggest problem. Of course, the development is not something that can be stopped. But the fact that the growth is orderless makes it so that the very wish to cater for tourists affect the sandbank that creates the waves.” And he adds, “I don't think the wave will actually disappear because I believe the power of nature is stronger than us. But we can affect it in a way that it won't form as it does and stops being attractive to surfers. Or at least to foreign surfers. I don’t think that it will become unattractive for locals because they will obviously use what they have.”

“If you pay attention, the hotel zone in Zicatela is growing, growing…and there will come a point when the offshore [wind that comes down from the mountains], which is what makes the wave perfect, will disappear, as it has been disappearing. Why? Because of the construction of these hotels. The air currents are no longer the same, the sea currents are no longer the same.”

When asked what factor has the potential to be the most beneficial, Luis maintains that it’s the surfer themselves. “In the study, a term came up called ‘blue mind’, which refers to the constant thinking on the part of surfers about the waves,” he explains. “However abstract this might be, it could benefit Puerto Escondido and its environment, because in the end, if the surfer manages to transmit at least to other locals the importance of caring for the environment and the waves, we could take a step forward in managing the wave resource more sustainably, therefore making it last longer.”

The paper concludes by reiterating the need to conduct investigations around the different social relationships established between tourist surfers, local surfers and the rest of the community of the destination in question, and that, based on the voice of the residents, these studies seek to identify the impacts that surf tourism generates/has generated, using the information gleaned to create alternatives that minimise negative impacts and promote the positive ones.

On a final note, Luis hints at the importance of characterising the profile of the surf tourist, as this will contribute to understanding their motivations, tastes and personal interests. “I believe that, supported by the local government, surfers are key at this moment in Puerto to looking after this resource,” he says. “Because there is nothing as powerful as having the person who understands the sensibility of the waves and the elements at the forefront of their management.”

Reference: Valencia Chávez, L.A. 2022. Una aproximación a los impactos del turismo de surf en Puerto Escondido, México . Turismo y Sociedad. 32, (dic. 2022), 251–270.